“H’m!” said nurse.
“Why do you make those sort of noises when I speak of my mother? I don’t like it,” said the child. “But I must tell you about Silverbel. Mother says it is practicalically ours now. I don’t quite know what she means by practicalically, but I suppose she means that it is almost our place. Anyhow, when my dearest rich father comes back it will be ours, and we are going to make poor Mr. Holman quite rich, and you, darling nursie, quite rich, and—and others quite rich. We are going to have a great big bazaar at Silverbel, and the big-wigs are coming to it. Isn’t it a funny word! perhaps you don’t know what big-wigs are, but I do.”
Nurse laughed.
“Eat your supper and go to bed, Miss Sibyl. You are staying up a great deal too late, and you are learning things you had better know nothing about.”
Meanwhile Mrs. Ogilvie downstairs was having a consultation with her lawyer.
“I don’t want to lose the place,” she said. “My husband is safe to be satisfied with my decision.”
“If you have really made up your mind to pay twenty thousand pounds for the place, and I cannot say that I think it at all dear,” replied the lawyer, “I have no objection to lending you a couple of thousand pounds to pay a deposit. You need not complete the purchase for at least three months, and I have not the slightest doubt I can further arrange that you may go into possession, say—well, any time you like after the deposit money is paid.”
“Can you really?” said Mrs. Ogilvie, her eyes growing dark and almost passionate in their eagerness.
“At the worst it could be taken off your hands,” he answered; “but doubtless, from what you tell me, Ogilvie will be well able to complete the thing; only remember, pray remember, Mrs. Ogilvie, that this is rather a big matter, and if by any chance your husband does not find the Lombard Deeps all that Lord Grayleigh expects”—he paused and looked thoughtful. “I can lend you the money if you wish it,” he said then abruptly.
“The money to enable me to pay a deposit?” she said.